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Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-25T10:36:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-11-01 Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions from livestock systems are important because of their significant contribution to global warming. Nitrogen fertilization can improve system production; however, it alters soil gas emissions. We evaluated soil nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to investigate how they are affected by increasing levels of N fertilizer (urea) in a productive Marandu grass [Urochloa brizantha (Hochst ex A. Rich) Stapf] pasture subjected to continuous grazing by young Nellore beef cattle (Bos indicus). The N2O, CH4, and CO2 emissions were significantly affected by increasing N fertilizer levels. The seasons also affected GHGs emissions. Nitrogen fertilizer favored CH4 consumption relative to the control plot without N, with mean emission of 23.7 μg CH4−C m−2 h−1 in the fertilized plots compared to 61.6 μg CH4−C m−2 h−1 in the control. The N-fertilized areas presented higher CO2 emissions compared to the control plot without N. The areas that received N fertilization showed a positive linear association between the water-filled pore space and N2O emission. Soil temperature drove CO2 emissions. Increasing N fertilization in grazed marandu grass increases N2O and CO2 emissions during the growing season, while reducing CH4. The effect of fertilization during the transition season was not apparent, and perhaps other factors could provide a better explanation for the GHG emissions during this period. Department of Animal Science Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Via de acesso Professor Paulo Donato Castellane Department of Exact Science Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Via de acesso Professor Paulo Donato Castellane Department of Animal Science Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Via de acesso Professor Paulo Donato Castellane Department of Exact Science Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Via de acesso Professor Paulo Donato Castellane CNPq: 118700/2017-0 FAPESP: 2015/15631-3 FAPESP: 2015/16631-5 FAPESP: 2017/11274-5

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-29T08:34:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-11-01 Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Supplementation of grazing cattle may improve forage utilization, methane emission and efficiency of nutrients use. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different supllementation strategies on performance, metabolic parameters and methane emission in Nellore cattle reared on well-managed marandu palisadegrass (Urochloa brizantha cv Marandu) pastures. Three supplementation strategies consisted of protein and energy sources from traditional ingredients compared to a novel feedstuff: TS) Traditional supplement (protein-energy) composed of ground corn and soybean meal; ES) energy supplement composed of ground corn; and DS) Distiller's coproduct supplement (protein-energy) composed of ground corn and dried distiller grain (DDG). All supplements were offered at 0.3% of body weight (BW). Sixty-nine growing Nellore bulls [251 kg of body weight (BW) ± 13.0 kg] were randomly distributed according to initial BW in nine paddocks (twenty-three animals per treatment, three paddocks per treatment) to evaluate liveweight gain. From these, eighteen bulls (381.83 kg BW ± 16.15 kg) were selected for methane emission measurements (six animals per treatment) using sulfur hexafluoride tracer gas technique. Six rumen cannulated steers (289.5 kg BW ± 19.6 kg) across six paddocks (two per treatment) were used in an incomplete double Latin square design (3 treatments x 4 periods) to evaluate metabolic parameters. Statistical analyses were done using the Mixed Procedure in SAS and adopting significance level at 5%. It was hypothesized that the use of DS or ES, could increase the N use efficiency because of a higher rumen undegradable protein content, and more energy available for microbial synthesis in the rumen, respectively. Overall, there were no differences on animal performance, intake, nutrients digestibility, ruminal parameters, and microbial protein synthesis among treatments indicating that any of the supplemental sources could be utilized. Although, animals in DS had lower urine N excretion. The ES supplement increased methane yield (g/DMI) and the methane conversion factor Ym (% of gross energy intake) when compared to other treatments, but not methane production, which was similar among all treatments. São Paulo State University Animal Science Department, Zip Code: 14884-900 Jaboticabal Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Zip Code: 23897-000 Seropédica Central Queensland University Institute for Future Farming Systems, Zip Code: 4701 Rockhampton São Paulo State University Animal Science Department, Zip Code: 14884-900 Jaboticabal CNPq: #141611/2017-0 FAPESP: #2015/16631-5

A 7 year experiment (2008&ndash, 2014) evaluated cattle grazing intensity (sward height) effects on herbage mass, forage quality, and greenhouse gas emissions in continuously stocked pastures containing the tropical &lsquo, Marandu&rsquo, palisade grass (Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich) Stapf cv. Marandu). The experiment consisted of three sward height treatments (15, 25, and 35 cm) and six replicates. There were four periods each year during the rearing phase. Significant effects were found for herbage mass, proportions of leaf and stem, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, lignin, animal performance, enteric methane (CH4), and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from soils. When the canopy height increased from 15 to 35 cm, the herbage mass rose from 5.23 to 9.86 kg t ha&minus, 1, leaf percentage decreased, and stem percentage increased. Crude protein content averaged 14.2%, and neutral detergent fiber averaged 58%. Average daily gain averaged 0.67, 0.81, and 0.90 kg &minus, 1 head&minus, 1, while live weight gain ha&ndash, 1 was 649, 530, and 439 kg for the 15, 25, and 35 cm treatments, respectively. The weather variables explained the GHG emissions, interannual herbage mass, and structure variations.

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-11T23:33:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-10-01 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Greenhouse gases are known to play an important role in global warming. In this study, we determined the effects of selected soil and climate variables on nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from a tropical grassland fertilized with chicken slurry, swine slurry, cattle slurry, and cattle compost. Cumulative N2O emissions did not differ between treatments and varied from 29.26 to 32.85 mg N m(-2). Similarly, cumulative CH4 emissions were not significantly different among the treatments and ranged from 6.34 to 57.73 mg CH4 m(-2). Slurry and compost application induced CO2 emissions that were significantly different from those in the control treatment. The CH4 conversion factors measured were 0.21%, 1.39%, 4.39%, and 5.07% for cattle compost, chicken slurry, swine slurry, and cattle slurry, respectively, differing from the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The fraction of added N emitted as N2O was 0.39%, which was lower than the IPCC default value of 2%. Our findings suggest that N2O emissions could be mitigated by replacing synthetic fertilizer sources with either biofertilizer or compost. Our results indicate the following: N2O emission was mainly controlled by soil temperature, followed by soil moisture and then soil NH4 content; CH4 fluxes were mainly controlled by soil moisture and chamber headspace temperature; and CO2 fluxes were mainly controlled by chamber headspace temperature and soil moisture. Sao Paulo State Univ, Dept Anim Sci, Coll Agr & Vet Sci, BR-14884900 Jaboticabal, Brazil Kenji Agr & Environm Consultancy, BR-14010079 Ribeirao Preto, Brazil Sao Paulo State Univ, Dept Anim Sci, Coll Agr & Vet Sci, BR-14884900 Jaboticabal, Brazil FAPESP: 2012/06718-8 FAPESP: 2017/112745

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-12T01:59:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-06-15 Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) We quantified nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), and ammonia (NH3) emissions from cattle urine and dung patches on Brachiaria decumbens growing in a long-term silvopasture (SPS) or in monoculture (MONO) during the annual rainy and dry periods in southwest Brazil. We hypothesized that microenvironmental changes triggered by dense shade and litter, provided by trees, and pasture quality in SPS would affect greenhouse gas emissions from cattle excreta. Two field trials (rainy and dry season) were carried out using manual closed static chambers in a 3 × 2 factorial scheme, corresponding to three excreta types (urine, dung, and control without excreta) and two pasture systems (SPS and MONO), in a block design with three blocks and two replicates per block (n = 6 per treatment). Generally, N2O and CH4 fluxes were higher in SPS than in MONO. Notably, N losses in the form of N2O did not exceed 0.10 %, except for N2O emissions from urine deposited during the rainy season in SPS (0.39 % of applied N). Cattle dung was also a source of CH4. The highest fluxes were observed under SPS during the rainy season, but emissions were generally low, with emission rates < 0.1 kg CH4 head−1 yr−1. The highest N losses by NH3 volatilization were observed for urine under MONO, amounting to 8.3 % of total N applied during the rainy season and 17.1 % during the dry season. Our results demonstrate that N2O, CH4, and NH3 emissions from cattle are influenced by pasture system, excreta type, and season. N2O and CH4 emissions increase in long-term SPS, while NH3 losses reduce. Department of Animal Sciences Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Av. PH Rolfs, s/nº, Campus Universitário Embrapa Gado de Leite, Av. Eugênio do Nascimento, 610 Embrapa Agrobiologia, Rodovia BR 465, KM 07 Departament of Animal Sciences Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias UNESP – Univ. Estadual Paulista, Via de acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane Embrapa Solos, R. Jardim Botânico, 1024, Jardim Botânico Departament of Animal Sciences Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias UNESP – Univ. Estadual Paulista, Via de acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane FAPEMIG: APQ-02158-15

In Brazil beef cattle production is one of the most important activities in the agricultural sector and has an important impact on environmental and resources consumption. In this study assessed greenhouses gases (GHG) impacts from on farms representative productive system and the possible improvements of the production chain. Primary data from animal production index and feeding were collected from 17 farms, which covers 300.000 animals and 220.000 hectares. Emissions of methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide were made using intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) guidelines for national inventories. The GHG inventory included emissions from animals, feeds and operations for animal operation from “cradle to farm gate”. Emissions of each farm were converted to carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq) and divided by carcass production. Regression analysis between carbon dioxide equivalent and productive index was run to identify possible hotspot of GHG emissions. A large variation between farms were observed. The GHG yield ranged from 8.63 kg to 50.88 CO2eq kg carcass-1. The productive index age of slaughtering (P < 0.0001), average daily gain (P < 0.0001) and productivity (P = 0.058) per area were positive correlated to GHG yield. While no correlation was found with stocking rate (P = 0.21). Improvements of the production chain could be realized by accurate animal management strategies that reduce the age of slaughtering (feeding and genetic improvements) and gain individual or per area using strategic animal supplementation and pasture management, in order to obtains reduction of GHG emissions of beef cattle.

Beef cattle production is an important agricultural activity in Brazil, which influences environmental and resource consumption. This study analyzed greenhouse gas (GHG) emission impacts from 17 farms, representing the Brazil’s productive system and determined possible improvements in the production chain. Methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide emissions were evaluated using the updated Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines for national inventories. The GHG inventory included emissions from animals, feeds, and “cradle-to-farm-gate” operations for animal management. Regression analyses of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq) emissions and productive indices were performed to identify possible GHG emission hotspots. The results varied considerably among the farms. The GHG yield ranged from 8.63 to 50.88 CO2eq kg carcass−1. The productive indices of average daily gain (p &lt, 0.0001), area productivity (p = 0.058), and slaughtering age (p &lt, 0.0001) were positively correlated with GHG yield. However, no correlation was found with the stocking rate (p = 0.21). The production chain could be improved through accurate animal management strategies that reduce the slaughtering age and daily weight gain individually or per area using pasture management and strategic animal supplementation, which could subsequently reduce GHG emissions in beef cattle production.

Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-25T11:02:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-06-01 Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) The intensification of pasture production has increased the use of N fertilizers—a practice that can alter soil greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the fluxes of CH4, CO2, and N2 O in the soil of Urochloa brizantha ‘Marandu’ pastures fertilized with different sources and doses of N. Two field experiments were conducted to evaluate GHG fluxes following N fertilization with urea, ammonium nitrate, and ammonium sulfate at doses of 0, 90, 180, and 270 kg N ha−1 . GHG fluxes were quantified using the static chamber technique and gas chromatography. In both experiments, the sources and doses of N did not significantly affect cumulative GHG emissions, while N fertilization significantly affected cumulative N2 O and CO2 emissions compared to the control treatment. The N2 O emission factor following fertilization with urea, ammonium nitrate, and ammonium sulfate was lower than the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change standard (0.35%, 0.24%, and 0.21%, respectively, with fractionation fertilization and 1.00%, 0.83%, and 1.03%, respectively, with single fertilization). These findings are important for integrating national inventories and improving GHG estimation in tropical regions. Departamento de Zootecnia Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias UNESP—Universty Estadual Paulista Departamento de Zootecnia Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias UNESP—Universty Estadual Paulista FAPESP: 2015/16631–5 FAPESP: 2017/02914–0 FAPESP: 2017/11274–5 FAPESP: 2017/20279–0 CNPq: 431713/2018–9

Intensification of tropical grassland can be a strategy to increase beef production, but methods for achieving this should maintain or reduce its environmental impact and should not compromise future food-producing capacity. The objective of this review was to discuss the aspects of grassland management, animal supplementation, the environment, and the socioeconomics of grassland intensification. Reducing environmental impact in the form of, for example, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is particularly important in Brazil, which is the second-largest beef producer in the world. Most Brazilian pastures, however, are degraded, representing a considerable opportunity for the mitigation and increase of beef-cattle production, and consequently increasing global protein supply. Moreover, in Brazil, forage production is necessary for seasonal feeding strategies that maintain animal performance during periods of forage scarcity. There are many options to achieve this objective that can be adopted alone or in association. These options include improving grassland management, pasture fertilization, and animal supplementation. Improving grazing management has the potential to mitigate GHG emissions through the reduction of the intensity of CO2 emissions, as well as the preservation of natural areas by reducing the need for expanding pastureland. Limitations to farmers adopting intensification strategies include cultural aspects and the lack of financial resources and technical assistance.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-12-11T17:08:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2017-06-01 Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Greenhouse gases (GHG) can be affected by grazing intensity, soil, and climate variables. This study aimed at assessing GHG emissions from a tropical pasture of Brazil to evaluate (i) how the grazing intensity affects the magnitude of GHG emissions; (ii) how season influences GHG production and consumption; and (iii) what are the key driving variables associated with GHG emissions. We measured under field conditions, during two years in a palisade-grass pasture managed with 3 grazing intensities: heavy (15 cm height), moderate (25 cm height), and light (35 cm height) N2O, CH4 and CO2 fluxes using static closed chambers and chromatographic quantification. The greater emissions occurred in the summer and the lower in the winter. N2O, CH4, and CO2 fluxes varied according to the season and were correlated with pasture grazing intensity, temperature, precipitation, % WFPS (water-filled pores space), and soil inorganic N. The explanatory variables differ according to the gas and season. Grazing intensity had a negative linear effect on annual cumulative N2O emissions and a positive linear effect on annual cumulative CO2 emissions. Grazing intensity, season, and year affected N2O, CH4, and CO2 emissions. Tropical grassland can be a large sink of N2O and CH4. GHG emissions were explained for different key driving variables according to the season. Departamento de Zootecnia Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias UNESP – Univ Estadual Paulista Uberlandia Federal University, Rua João Naves de Ávila 2121, Santa Mônica Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho Via de Acesso Prof Paulo Donato Castellane UNESP Departamento de Zootecnia Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias UNESP – Univ Estadual Paulista Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho Via de Acesso Prof Paulo Donato Castellane UNESP FAPESP: 2011/00060-8 FAPESP: 2012/04605-1 FAPESP: 2012/06718-8 FAPESP: 2012/14956-6

The recent article in this journal of Cerri et al. (2016) gives estimates of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for cattle production on extensively managed farms in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The results are expressed as GHG emission per kg of animal in the herd, and not per kg of product. These estimates should not be referred to as “carbon footprints” as they do not reflect the estimate of the GHG emissions utilized in the production of 1 kg of animal or carcass, but the total emission per kg of the total mass of animals in the herd, whether calves, heifers, steers or mature bulls and cows. This leads to a large under-estimation of the true GHG emissions for the production of Brazilian beef.